besides the clothes on their back? Do they know anyone where they are going? Who
will welcome them? Where will they go and where will they sleep? How will they
is the Director of Annunciation House. Some of us from Kansas City have worked
with Ruben and Annunciation House over the years. Ruben is a native of El Paso
and a Rockhurst U grad. Last week Ruben sent me an email about the changing
conditions at the border. He wrote…
old, was a volunteer at the border in 1988.] It’s wonderful to read that the spirit of
the border reality is alive and well even after all of these years. All of these
experiences are formative and part of the ongoing living gospel that continues to be
written by the faith of those convicted by the presence of Jesus in the lives of the
poor.
idea out for you. All of these years we have been trying to recruit volunteers to come
to the border to help in the work of hospitality. Because we have had a very hard
time recruiting people to come down, we want to send the refugees to cities in the
interior. You’ve no doubt read about Governor Abbott sending charter buses to New
York, D.C. and now Chicago. He’s doing that without coordination and for political
reasons.
the interior of the country. The idea is that in the same way that Annunciation
House receives refugees here on the border, faith communities in the interior would
do the same. A charter bus with 50+ refugees would arrive. The faith community
would have to be ready with a venue where cots could be placed and the refugees
would sleep there. Meals would have to be arranged, hygiene items, used clothing,
etc., would be collected. Volunteers would have to do simple intakes and then call
the refugees’ family members or friends who are able to receive them and who could
purchase bus or plane tickets to get them there. These refugees would stay with you
from 24 to 72 hours before moving on.
|
|
|
longer term hospitality. The hospitality site would need to identify places that could
offer longer term hospitality while the refugees look for work and then start looking
for a place to rent on their own.
door needs to be heard in Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City,
Portland, Seattle, Boise, Richmond, and on and on and on . . . .
“Let me know what you think,
Ruben”
Well, what do you think, St. James? There are many different needs connected with
this ministry of hospitality. I am also making contact with other organizations and
churches. Where do we/you fit in? You can leave your response at
rossbeau@gmail.com. Thank you.